Sleeping car construction



g- 1930- w. E. KNOELL SLEEPING CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 8, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet BE EIH:

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ATTORN EYG Aug. 19, 1930. w. E. KNOELL SLEEPING CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 8, 1929 4 Shuts-Sheet 2 timer, 5,

INVENTOR EJ010011 B ATTORNEYO' Aug. '19, 1930. w. E.-KNOELL SLEEPING CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTQRN EY6 Aug: 19,1930. w. E. KNOELL SLEEPKNG CAR CONSTRUCTION Fi pril 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Hi; ATT RNEYd INVENTOR ME. Knoell BY lllll Patented Aug. 19, 1939 VVALTEB E. KNOELL, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON SLEEPING-CAR Application filed April 8,

My invention relates to improvements in sleeping car constructions, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

5 An object of my invention is to provide a sleeping car construction in which individual sleeping compartments are provided and so constructed that a maximum number of compartments is provided.

16 A further object is to provide a sleeping car construction of such a type that a plurality of compartments may be served by a single stairway.

A further object is to provide a sleeping car construction in which ampile corridor space is provided, thereby permitting a relatively large amount of room for the occuants.

n A further object is to provide a sleeping car construction in which all of the compartments are served by a common corridor.

A further object is to provide a sleeping car construction in which the necessity for or ladders and curtains is entirely eliminated.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accom- 29 forming part of this appauying drawings,

plication, in whlch I Figure 1 is a side elevat1on, partly in section, of a car embodying my inventlon, W Figure 2 is a sectional vlew taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 4,

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substanially along the line 3-3 of Figure 4,

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my device, as Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of'Fig'u're 4, I K Figure 7 is sectional view taken along the line 7+7 of Figure 4, and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 4.

In carrying out my invention I make use 01 a car 1 such as that indicated in Figure 1. The car is provided with a plurality of trans- CONSTRUCTION 1929. Serial No. 353,560.

verse partitions 2 provided with openings 3. The openings 3 are in alignment along one side of the car for providing a corridor 4 extending the entire length of the car. Since the compartments between any two of the transverse partitions 2 are identical in construction, the description hereinafter will be confined to the compartments disposed be tween two of the partitions.

The car is provided with a floor 5 and a so ceiling 6, see Figures 2, 5, and 6. The car is also provided with wall portions 7 and a roof portion 8. WVhile the roof portion in the present instance is shown as being substantially semicircular, it will be understood of 65 course that a flat roof may be used. A partition 9 is secured to the floor of the car in any suitable manner, see Figures 6 and 7, and is provided with step-like portions 10 and 11.

he partition 9 extends to the ceiling 6. A 79 wall 12 is secured to the partition 9 and is positioned in alignment with the edges of the partitions 2 defined by the openings 3, see Fi ure 7. The ceiling6 is cut out at 13, see Figures 5 and 8, for receiving wall portions 14, 15, 16, and 17. The walls 14 to 17, inclusive, are provided with a floor 18 which partly rests upon the step portion 10 associated with the partition 9 and the wall 12. The floor 18 is provided with an opening 19 and walls 20 are placed adjacent the opening. The walls 20 are provided with a bottom 21 which rests upon the portion 11 of the partition 9.

A partition 22 is positioned upon the ceiling 6 in alignment with the partition 9. The partition 22 reaches from the ceiling 6 to the roof of the car. A wall portion 23 is secured to the partition 22 and at right angles thereto 3 as shown in Figures 3 and 6. The wall portion. 23 is positioned flush with the wall portion 14 as shown in Figure 6. A partition 22 is secured to the ceiling 6 upon the opposite side of the car and is also provided with a 1 wall portion 23 positioned. with respect to the wall 15 'in the manner that the wall 23 is associated with the wall 14. Dividing members 24 and 25 are positioned longitudinally with respect to the car, see Figures 3, 5, and 6. The dividing members 24 and 25 extend from the bottom 18 to the ceiling of the car. The dividing members 24 and 25 extend from the partitions 2 to points adjacent the walls 20, see Figure 3.

Doors 26, 27, 28, and 29 are hinged to the dividing members 24 and 25, see Figure 8. The wall 15 is provided with a doorway 30, see Figures 4 and 8. A stairway 31 is disposed upon the floor 5 and in front of the doorway 30. Doors 32 and 33 are hinged to the wall 12 and the walls 16 and 17 as shown in Figures 4 and 7.

It will thus be seen that lower compartments 34 and 35 are provided between two of the transverse partitions 2, and upper compartments 36, 37, 38, and 39 are provided above the ceiling 6. The doors 32 and 33 permit the entrance to the compartments 34 and 35, respectively. When it is desired to gain entrance to any one of the upper compartments, this is attained by walking up the stairway 31 and entering the doorway 30. The occupant then is in a position to open any one of the doors 26 to 29, inclusive, preparatory to occupying one of the upper chambers.

The occupant steps from the stairway 31 to the bottom 21 and then upon the floor 18, at which time one of the up er compartments 36 to 39 may be entered. l t will be seen by referring to Figures 5 and 6 that the occupant may stand upright upon the floor 18 and within one of the compartments 36 to 39. Any suitable bed, indicated generally at 40, is provided in each of the compartments 36 to 39. A suitable table 41 may be placed as shown in Figure 3. The beds 40 are permanently disposed within the upper compartments. V

The lower compartments 34 and 35 are provided with suitable beds 42, see Figures 6 and 7. The beds form no part of the present invention. Preferably, a folding couch is used in the lower compartments. The couch is so arranged that it may be opened and used for a bed and when closed it may be used as a seat.

While I have described my invention in connection with railway cars, it will be understood of course that my invention is equally applicable to various types of sleeping car constructions such as airplanes, busses, boats, etc. The walls of the car 1 are provided with windows 43 for the lower compartments and windows 44 for the upper compartments. For sitting purposes during the day, suitable seats of any sort may be used in both upper and lower compartments, and also in corridor which is especially spacious.

I claim:

1. A car provided with a corridor along one side thereof, lower compartments having doorways communicating with said corridor, a pluralit of upper compartments having a common oorway communicating with said corridor, and a stairway leading to said common doorway, said upper compartments being provided with individual doors arranged to be entered when an occupant has passed through said common doorway.

2. A car provided with a corridor, lower compartments having entrances communicating with the corridor, a ceiling for the car, a plurality of compartments disposed above the ceiling and having a common doorway communicating with said corridor, and floor means for said upper compartments disposed below the ceiling whereby an occupant may stand erect preparatory to entering one of said upper compartments.

3. A car provided with a corridor and a plurality of lower compartments communicating with said corridor, a ceiling disposed within the car, a plurality of upper compartments disposed above the ceiling and having a common doorway communicating with the corridor, and a floor disposed below the ceiling and arranged to provide standing means for an occupant within any one of said upper compartments.

4. A car provided with a corridor and a plurality of lower compartments communi eating with said corridor, a ceiling disposed within the car, a plurality of upper compartments disposed above the ceiling and having a common doorway communicating with the corridor, a floor disposed below the ceiling and arranged to prox ide standing means for an occupant within any one of said upper compartments, and a stairway leading to said common doorway.

5. A car provided with plurality of lower compartments communieating with said corridor, a ceiling disposed within the car, a plurality of upper compart ments disposed above the ceiling and having a common doorway communicating with the corridor, a floor disposed below the ceiling and arranged to provide standing means for an occupant within any one of said upper compartments, a stairway leading to said common doorway, and door means for each of said upper compartments.

6. A car provided with a corridor and a plurality of lower compartments communicating with said corridor, a ceiling disposed within the car, a plurality of upper compartments disposed above the ceiling and having a common doorway communicating with the corridor, a floor disposed below the ceiling and arranged to provide standing means for an occupant within any one of said upper compartments, a stairway leading to said common doorway, door means for each of said upper compartments, and door means for each of said lower compartments.

Signed at Tacoma in the county of Pierce and State of Washington this 25th day of March, A. D. 1929.

WALTER E. KNOELL.

a corridor and a lll) 

